Prepardness Project FOLLOWUP! All Projects That Are Done and Ready To

Home , Baby Love

12-5-08 vices on Sundays. You stop at the Moses Basket to admire our gifts and some of you are putting Prepardness Project FOLLOWUP! little love notes in the hats to the baby you knit All Projects that are done and ready to go can be for. Its inspiring to see your enthusiasm. my heart dopped off at Grace Episcopal Church at 1314 thanks YOU. Spring Street, St. Helena in to the Moses Basket inside the office. Please include you name, ad- Lori Dunn will no longer coordinate the blanket dress, and phone number! Any questions please section. Her recovery from recent surgery de- call Joan Rocha at 967-9966. mands all her strength and attention. We wish Lori well.

1-9-09 HELP WANTED: EASY VOLUNTEER TASK. YOU CAN DO IT. Good volunteer jobs are hard Our goal is to send moms and babies home with to find. Candidate can come on board IMMEDI- a kit containing useful items such as toiletries ATELY...... PLEASE!!!!!! for mom and a warm hat and a soft blanket for baby. Since November you have made blankets, This is for all you new aunts and uncles...On knitted hats, donated socks, opened your check December 23, 2008 I received this letter from book, given your time and your love. Because Louise DiMattio, RN Nurse Manager-6C,Birth of your loyal support we have delivered 60 hats, Center,SFGH. 32 blankets, and 44 pair of socks to SFGH. Our first delivery on December 13th was gone with- Dear Joan and Friends Baby Preparedness in a week. The second delivery on January 4th Project, Grace Episcopal Church. " Thank you will also be depleted rapidly. Our new angels are so very much for the absolutely beautiful blan- wearing creations from our Grace Church family kets and knitted hats that you have made for and many other friends. I can't thank you enough the moms and babies on 6C,SFGH. I hope that for all your hard work. By answering GODS call, it is not too difficult to imagine what a huge dif- you help these angels as they start their journey. ference it makes for us to be able to send the families home with a hat, blanket etc." she con- Our immediate goal is to continue making hats tinues, "Without these generous gifts we would and blankets in January and February. Father have absolutely nothing to give the families most Mac will bless them and we will make a big de- in need in San Francisco. I look forward to work- livery the first week in March. I know many of ing with you on this marvelous project. May your you knitters have a stash of completed hats at goodness to us return to you in many, many way home. throughout the coming year." Louise

Our long range goal is to make deliveries on a Blessing to each one of you for all you do. Thank regular basis through out the year, as this is an you! Thank You! on going ministry. More on that schedule later. -Joan Rocha I just love meeting so many of you after both ser- Baby Love Ministry Coordinator 1-23-09 When you see the pictures of babies wearing the designer hats made by you, your heart will melt.

I am truly excited about this project and I thank you again for all your hard work in support of BABY LOVE. YOU are the BEST.

Blessings, Joan

2-6-09

Many Angels are visiting BABY LOVE! Most of you know we are making hats and receiving blankets for new born babies at San Francisco Gener- al Hospital. Of the 140 births a month our goal is to send 40% which represent the “poorest of the poor” home, wrapped in originals from our Grace Church family and friends. We can do this within a reasonable time schedule for us.

We just had a baby yarn shower thanks to Mi- IMPORTANT DATE: MARCH 1st. chele Laurence of Muse Yarn & Arts who donated FATHER MAC WILL BLESS HATS. 145 balls of yarn. That will make about 290 hats. Remember to bring finished hats in before! Knitters will love working with this soft yarn using our pattern with #8 needles. It’s FREE and avail- You know we are knitting hats for the neediest able after both services on Sunday for you to take newborns from San Francisco General Hospital. home. Take a ball and return 2 hats, its quick, Well, if anyone has visited the Mission District easy, and fun. I will get yarn to you if you are not lately they will see the one and two month olds at either service. Please call me 707-967-9966. wearing designer hats knitted by our Grace family and friends .People smile when they look at these Michele also donated a handsome knitted quilt for little angels wearing hats made by you. WE ARE a new angel. She will distribute our brochures in TOUCHING MANY! her store on 1309 Main St, SH and encourage her A special thanks for the extra support BABY clients to knit for our babies. Thank you, Michele. LOVE received recently from some dedicated Aunts and Uncles . Patty Vasconi of Vasconi”s Drugs gave us generous bottles of shampoo and conditioner for the Lisa Marie designed and made the beautiful new moms. Thank you Patty. BABY LOVE POSTER. It tells the story in a dra- matic way. You don't want to miss it. The poster is Another big angel dropped right down from heav- in the rectory. en. A little over 3 weeks ago I met Adele Martin, aka “ Anti Deli” from Calistoga. After hearing about Carol Sanderlin has been teaching us how to BABY LOVE she offered to knit some hats. We make pom-poms for the hats, after the 10:00am met at Safeway parking lot recently and she gave service. The hats she makes are beautiful. me 19 hats, yes 19. Thank you Anti Deli. I gave her some free yarn to knit more. Anne Offord is buying little sleepers and color co- ordinating her knitted hats with the sleepers. De- 12noon to see all our gifts of love to these new signer Angels.Every week she's brings some. baby angels. This spectacular collection of one of a kind designer hats made by the outstand- Jennifer Crosson, House Manager, Lincoln The- ing team of family and friends of Grace Church is ater has made 10 hats and has many more in her something you don't want to miss. I am grateful basket. Her friend Bobbie Samuels from Sacra- to ,"The Team" for their hard work along with the mento sent along 10 hats. The news is spreading many hours and materials they are donating to about the BABY LOVE PROJECT this project.

BABY LOVE is starting to have a social life... Do you remember on Inauguration Day BABY Kerry Forbes invited us to set up a table at the LOVE was at the Cameo Theater? Well, an ex- Cameo Theater on Inauguration day and we tra special angel, Lydia M. Money signed up. Her signed up many knitters. We also had a great goal to make 25 hats has been reached . along seat for the festivities. Kerry and James invited us with 3 sweater sets. She kindly gave Erika Trez to share a table at the BALL BASH at night, and a knitting lesson after the 8am service. Lydia is we had a ball. Robin Krill helped BABY LOVE another present from the HOLY SPIRIT. by mingling with people at the buffet line, talking about our project ,and sending many people over Thanks to Barbie Moller for putting me in touch to sign up, for a free ball of yarn and return 2 with Rianda House. Their knitting club decided to hats. A long day but a fun and productive one. ,"knit for a cause"and sent along 11 hats. They will continue to support our ministry. Our youngest knitter is Lindsey Krill 10, who works on her hat at the Ten 0,clock service. Her hat is Pierrette Simpson of Vineyard Valley, and Julie beautiful!She is a great example for our children Bolander SH, were drawn to BABY LOVE by in- and grandchildren to follow. Good job Lindsey... formation from others. Our communication has been by phone and with that Julie has sent 21 i am thrilled with the progress of this project. Your beautiful hats. Pierrette dropped a bundle at my commitment , encouragement , and your compas- door, containing hats, knitted blankets and pat- sionate heart, have made this project accelerate terns.The Holy Spirit has touched their heart. rapidly. We started a couple of months ago and Joanne Sales consistently creates absolutely we are well on our way to over a hundred hats. beautiful hats. She is an excellent knitter! YOU ARE AWESOME ! My dear friend Kathy Robinson , a cancer sur- LOVE is the greatest gift we can give to each oth- vivor who lives in Mission Viejo sent 17 crochet er. BABY LOVE LOVES YOU.... hats and has another, "bag full"on the way. Blessings Joan Rocha It just keeps raining hats of love. Its been like Christmas every week and I get to take home the presents. I am the lucky one! We are pre- 2-20-09 paring for ,"Baby Delivery" during March. I am so excited ! SUNDAY MARCH 1, 2009 BABY LOVE HATS- YOU ARE INVITED! You will get some AMAZING statistics shortly. We have some great plans for the future . Remember At the 8:00 am service Father Mac will bless the with each stitch ,YOU hug your own angel, who MOSES BASKET full of hats that YOU knit for will hug YOU back. SO, please keep on kitting the neediest newborns of San Francisco General This is an on going ministry. Thanks. More later Hospital.Right now we have giving over 175 hats to the babies. See YOU at the HAT SHOW on Sunday March 1st , 9am to noon. I invite you to stop by Bourne Hall from 9am to- Blessings Joan Rocha On a small table in front of the altar two hundred ninety one hats (291) hugged together as they received the blessing. All colors, blue, yellow, pink, green, lilac, white, and vibrant multi were displayed in many sizes and patterns. All of them unique as the special baby who will wear one.

Louise DiMattio,RN Nurse Manager, Birth Center at San Francisco General Hospital spoke of the hardships that face mothers and babies in our target group, which is the neediest newborns.

3-6-09

WOW WHAT A DAY!!!!

After the blessing we put ALL of our donations on 5 tables in Bourne Hall for all to admire. The knitters were busy checking out new patterns while others admired blankets, sweaters, sleepers,socks and booties. A total of three hundred sixty (360) items were sent today, from the FAMILY of Grace Church Baby Love Ministry. Be

proud of yourself!!!

Some special moments: Olivia Andersen brought The Hat Blessing on March 1st by Fr. Mac fo- 3 of her dolls to help model hats, one wore a Julia cused on prayers for the lives of the newborn Capener; Frog blankets made by Christine Olivo babies.His familiar phrase,"thanking God for the that every one admired;Diane Le Blanc lugging day when their little feet hit the planet "is a spe- in a big bag of toiletries for the moms;and Lind- cial personal blessing from him that he has given sey Krill clutching her knitting in progress, asking to many of us. for white yarn to finish her hat ! I have some neat new yarn donated by Lydia Money so knitters call me, as this is an ongoing project and with that I know many of you are continuing to knit. As for me, I started recruiting new knitters on Sunday night and will get more on the team as the days go on. This is so much fun and I look forward to visiting SFGH to see some of our new angels. 3-20-09

The MOSES BASKET is at the Rectory waiting for your hats, blankets and love.Please keep knitting. Big things are coming up soon, stayed tuned.

Special thanks to Debra Rocha of Irvine, who donated 500 BABY LOVE cards. Extra special thanks to Pierrette Simpson and Vera Pesatana of Vineyard Valley, and Debra, who helped me attach cards to each hat at the last minute. BABY LOVE LOVES YOU!

Do you remember, at the Hat Blessing when Fr. Mac also blessed,”the knitter who made each stitch,” well since November 22, 2008 to March 1, 2009 the knitting team has knit OVER ONE MIL- LION stitches. Each knitter has EARNED her own special blessing! We started with 1 knitter, we now have a team of 28. The ELITE GROUP of 4 have each made 30 or more hats. The CORE GROUP of 6 have each made 20 or more hats. The REGULAR group of 18 have each made 1-19 hats. TOTAL items delivered as of March 1, 2009 is 521. Of this amount 351 were knitted hats and 169 were other items, They all went to San Francisco General Hospital from the BABY LOVE MINISTRY.

YOU have lifted BABY LOVE MINISTRY up with IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME, TO WORK WITH love and prayers. Like in Sundays First Reading SUCH DEDICATED PEOPLE. MY HEART 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13 And now faith, hope, THANKS EACH ONE OF YOU !!! and love abide, these three;and the greatest of Althea, Anne, Auntie Delly, Audrey, Ann, Anne these is love. BABY LOVE LOVES YOU. MY Marie, Barbara, Beth, Bobbie, Barbie, Carol, Car- HEART THANKS EACH ONE OF YOU..... olyn, Christine, Chris, Dorothy, Doris, Debra, De- Blessings, Joan Rocha nise, Erika, Geng, Helen Jennifer, Joan, Joanne, Julie, Julia, Joan, James, Kerry, Kathy, Karen, Lindsey, Lydia, Louise, Lori, Lisa Marie, Maria, Marilyn, Michele, Mariann, Melissa, Paula, Pier- rette, Pattie, Peggy, Olivia, Robin, Shirley, Sara, ters and presently one devoted blanket maker, Sandy, Suzanne, Sande, Sheila, Terry, Ursula, Friends from Calistoga, St Helena, Angwin, Ri- Vera, Fr. Mac. anda House, Vineyard Valley, Yountville, Napa, Folsom, San Jose, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Irvine, San Rafael, Fairfield, Tacoma, WA, Rhode Island, and Ohio, all have contributed to our ministry and are carrying the babies. I thank each one of you!

On June 15th, Fr Mac, Robin Krill, and me met in my garage where Fr Mac blessed all the hats, blankets,totes, booties, balls of yarn, gifts, WELL just about everything stored for Baby Love. As we held hands and Mac prayed in that special unique style we all know and love, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit beside us.Mac raised his hand and sprinkled holy water from the River Jordan on all GOD will praise each one of them. 1 Corinthians our gifts. 4:5 says- Not "the best of them" nor "a few of them," but "God will praise each one of them." WHAT A START FOR OUR NEW ANGELS.... GOD himself will praise his children. And what's Robin, ( my daughter) whose birthday it was that more, the praise is personal. Awards aren't given day also received a special blessing from Mac. a nation at a time, a church at a time, or a gen- I couldn't help thinking that 47 years ago I had eration at a time. The crowns are given one at this baby girl, and now I was being blessed as a a time. God himself will look you in the eye and surrogate grandmother to hundreds of babies. My bless you with the words"WELL DONE, GOOD heart was bursting with joy. AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!" Matthew 25:23 The blessing site was not as elegant as our beau-

tiful Grace Church, but this one had an extra spe- Blessings cial meaning to me. Joan Rocha, BABY LOVE Coordinator

On June 22nd I drove to Vallejo, and lugging two suitcases, boarded a ferry, hailed a cab and delivered 200 hats and blankets to the birth center at San Francisco General Hospital. I was met by a group of nurses, with beautiful smiles who ushered me to the office of Louise DiMattio, Nurse Manager. It was very busy on the floor with 22 patients and 11 nurses. I felt like Santa Claus opening up my bag of hats, blankets and totes. I spread everything out for all to see. Three nurses immediately took gifts for moms and babies who were going home that day. One of the nurses, a knitter asked me to select a hat because," they are so beautiful its hard to pick one." I took a set 7-9-09 to the nursery , gave it to a new mom and she put our gift on her baby boy who was one day old. I God has blessed the Baby Love Ministry with an then organized all our gifts by color, placed them abundance. We thank HIM! Support has come in boxes and put them in Louise's office for distri- from many people. bution. The SFGH staff told me how nice it was to receive fresh stock as they were completely out. In addition to a few dedicated Grace Family knit- Got a ride back to the city, took the ferry back to Vallejo and drove home. WHAT A DAY !!!!!

It is worth all the effort everyone puts into the project. New moms are happy, new babies coo- ing wrapped in our love and prayers, nurses excited with new things to give out, Louise is grateful, and YOU, experiencing the joy of giving from your heart and with that, the results of your love. Me, I am honored to represent you and connect with each person that our ministry touches. We are all doing GODS EARTHWORK. I love it!!!

Future plans are for a big delivery for the first week in September and December. AT PRES- ENT I need someone who goes to the city, to take a box of our wonderful warm blankets to SFGH. I will coordinate everything for you. Can I count on you for help? If so, please contact me at 967-9966 or [email protected]. Thanks.BABY LOVE LOVES YOU-SO DO I.

Blessings Joan Rocha, Coordinator PS: I am grateful for all the gifts from God, I only wish I could have carried more.....

Louise and new mom holding blanket.

Hats blessed in Joan’s garage by Father Mac.

SFGH Nurses and the hats and blankets from Baby Love Ministry.

Cart outside Louise’s office with our gifts.

8-20-09

Hello Everyone!

In a conservation with Fr. Mac he said,"wouldn't it be nice to get a letter from some of the mothers." I mentioned this to Louise DiMattio, Nurse Manager, SFGH and she replied,"since most of our patients are illiterate, I had a wonderful volunteer come in and help them write the notes."

Thank you dear Julie, the "wonderful volunteer" for your significant contribution to the BABY LOVE MINISTRY.

These letters are for ALL the members on the team. Enjoy!

Blessings~ Joan Rocha

9-17-09

BABY LOVE MINISTRY is fortunate to have a dedicated and loyal team that work hard to achieve our goals of helping the neediest newborns.

I would like you to meet an outstanding team member our LYDIA MONEY. In January of 2009 I met Lydia at the Cameo Cin- ema at the televised inauguration of the President. On a table in the lobby I was exhibiting knitted hats and recruiting new people.With enthusiasm, she signed on. Lydia has knit hundreds of hats,several sweaters, contributed flannel blankets, yarn, note paper,support , love and TIME.

Her current specialty is making Microplush blankets.. She purchases king size blankets and cuts out 6 individual crib blankets with an average size of 45 inches x 36 inches. Each finished blanket includes a custom"Baby Love Ministry Logo", a heart made from brightly colored material and ap- pliquéd to each blanket.She spends 8 to 10 hours a week making blankets and at present has made over 100 Microplush crib blankets.

Lydia is CEO, the CFO and general do everything person for Noble Properties , a sole proprietorship in St. Helena.She attends a Tuesday night prayer group. Her own private ministry includes the ba- JAN BRADLEY, who bies and the mothers. She says,"it is a blessing drives to San Fran- to do something for the forgotten and voiceless of cisco after loading our society." Many, many thanks Lydia for being up the car, securing on the team. BABY LOVE loves you Lydia and so directions, do I. and driving safely so we can deliver Blessings, our gifts to all the Joan Rocha Coordinator needy newborns and moms.

KERRI ABREU of Calistoga who con- stantly promotes the works of our ministry. Many babies are wearing hats of love from knitters that have come to us through Kerri.

LISA MARIE ANDERSEN has played a significant role in the marketing and publicity of BABY LOVE as well as Melissa Enault. They have put Baby Love on the map.

Baby Love celebrated her first birthday on Oc- tober 22nd and what a fruitful year it has been. GOD has blessed this ministry and many seeds have been planted. Our harvest just gets richer and THANKS (for) GIVING to the entire TEAM. IN JESUS NAME!

Baby Love loves you, I do too. Blessings, Joan Rocha, coordinator

11-25-09 11-11-09 BABY LOVE ATTENDS A PARTY!!! THANKSGIVING not the holiday but the word! When you hyphenate it Thanks-Giving applies During the first year of a baby’s life the most sig- here. Many people support the Baby Love Min- nificant growth steps occur.Thats exactly what is istry by knitting, sewing, crocheting, donations, happing to our Baby Love. As her 2nd year be- prayers, and other ways. I want to give, THANKS gins she is reaching out to her newborn cousins (for) GIVING to the OTHERS. in many ways. On November 5th Jan Bradley and I brought gifts from YOU to a Baby Shower. Adair Tench has given photo albums, scrap books and materials, AND has spent many hours The Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) Family creating, designing, cutting, pasting and finishing Resource Center in San Francisco works with the beautiful hand crafted Baby Love people who are homeless and in poverty. Their Thank you notes that many of you have re- goal is to insure that parents give birth to healthy ceived. babies and bond with their infants. Many are poor, single-parent families, headed by a woman who 12-9-09 may also be pregnant. They are barely surviv- ing on the streets, in shelters, or in over-crowded BABY LOVE ON THE ROAD substandard and unsafe environments. On November 16th Robin Krill, a very busy mom Four times a year the HPP offers an eight-week herself, drove us to Petaluma Valley Hospital. We series of free prenatal education classes where met Linda Troutfetter RN Nurse Manager and her clients learn how to prepare for childbirth and marvelous staff. We delivered four boxes of hats postpartum care. The ninth class is a baby show- and blankets. The parents of a day old baby boy er AND Baby Love was invited. There were 35 accepted our gifts and allowed us to take his pic- families and 50 people in attendance. ture. Baby Salvatore is wearing a hat made by Marilyn Rothfield, Rianda House, and snuggled We loaded Jan’s car with our gifts and she drove in a signature blanket by Lydia M Money. to the City. We were given a special parking spot and then ushered up to the party area. We set BABY LOVE AT HOME your shower gifts out on a long table and because many moms knew the sex of her baby they were I clearly remember that Sunday, when after the able to select a favorite. We handed each mom 8am service Bernard Vash and I met in the office the gift from YOU. It was neat. A couple of new- to view a selection of hats and blankets. He want- borns came and Jan volunteered to hold one. ed to choose the “right one,” for his new niece. His friends, Elizabeth Couse and Barbie Moller It was a very well organized event by the entire were there to help with the selection. While they staff. My personal thanks to each one of them viewed the items, Bernard told me the story of for making us feel like family. We are going back baby Evelyn. She was named after his mother next March. Evelyn and that touched him very deeply. As he continued the story he became emotional when As for you dear TEAM-YOU ARE THE BEST. he said how much this meant to him. I was deeply THANKS (for) GIVING. Baby Love Loves YOU... moved by his sincerity and delighted that Baby and so do I. Love was part of his family tree connection. This ministry truly touches many lives in different Blessings ~ Joan Rocha, Coordinator ways… We thank GOD our Father. BLESSINGS ~ Joan Rocha Coordinator

I received the following letters and pictures. Baby Evelyn was 2 months old in the pictures.

Blessings, Joan Rocha, Coordinator

12-23-09 Wearing a hat by Marilyn Rothfield of Rianda Joan: House and wrapped in a blanket by Lydia M. Congratulations! Your knitted caps for babies Money. has spread much further than the St Helena area. With help from Elizabeth Couse and Barbie Moller, my choice of knitted hats and blanket has been sent to the first daughter to be named after my mother, Evelyn.

The baby, Evelyn Frances Cunningham was born to my niece and nephew, Kris and Dan Cunning- ham, recently in Del Mar , California. Named Ev- elyn after her great-grand mother and Frances after her grandmother.

Otstanding pictures of baby Evelyn in her purple cap and her Green Bay Packer green and gold are being sent separately.

Congratulations again and best wishes for continued success. -Bernard Vash

Merry Christmas from Baby Love Ministry!

Blessing, Joan Rocha, Coordinator Nancy Romer Louise Strasser Marilyn Rothfeld Shirley Swanson 1-20-10 Joanne Sales Shirley Swanson Bobbie Samules Adair Tench Baby Love has touched the lives of many and Carol Sanderlin Brian Tench contributions received beyond family and friends Pierrette Simpson Barbara Tracy Julie Slinger Erica Trez of Grace Church Rianda House and Vineyard Janice Slinger - Huckaby Ceil Turner Valley include 12 Cities in California, and 3 Kathleen Smith Patty and Hap Vasconi States. Joan Smith Jane Wallace Julie Spencer Joan Warner BABY LOVE has distributed 1,018 hats, and Cathy Stegman Maryke Williams 250 blankets to San Francisco General Hospital. ALSO, 428 hats and 110 blankets to other agen- cies. 2-17-10

GRAND TOTAL for 2009:

1446 Hats and 360 Blankets that hug the newborn babies with love and prayers distributed from Grace Church Baby Love Ministry.

In Jesus Name. Thanks to all the following con- tributors in some way:

Lisa Marie Andersen Nathan Krill Olivia Andersen Beverly Kristensen Kerri Area Michele Laurence Audrey Barrall Michael & Mariann Layne Ann Beyschau Daine Le Blanc SO YOU THOUGHT IT Althea Bloomingdale Beth Lincoln WAS JUST ABOUT KNITTING? Julie Bolander Mimi Lyons Michael & Sande Marston Carolyn Bond BECAUSE YOU ASKED…. Jan Bradley Michael & Sande Marston Julia Capener Adele Martin (Auntie Delly) The JOURNEY of Blankets, Hats and Babies. Kate Chamers Sara McClellan Ursula Clevmont Sandy McIlmoyl Items are dropped off at the Moses Basket, my Anne Marie Clifford Judy Milliken front door, sent through the mail, or I pick them Elizabeth Couse Sharon Mills up. They are placed on my dinning room table for Jennifer Crosson Barbie Moller Bonnie Cunha Lydia Money processing. First the amounts are recorded on Jewels Drury Nancy Murphy a master sheet next to the name of each donor. Lori Dunn Carolyn Myers Each knitter signs a BABY LOVE gift card and Alex Dykes Anne Offord attaches it to the gift. Any item that does not have Melissa Enault Peggy O'Kelly a card, I attach one. That completes the circle of James and Kerry Forbes Karen Oliver Virginia Foreloin Christine Olivo love to the baby. Sandy Goldbarb Geng Passaro Linda Goldfarb Florece Pattison The hats are placed in sections, and then as- Barbara Green Paula Pavanis sembled in piles by small, medium, large, and Marion Grunge Vera Pestana colors blues, pinks, yellows etc. I select five from Margaret Halliwell Joyce Petrovic Cynthia Heinrich Kathy Polachek each pile, put a label on top and tie them with Kim & John Helfrick Cindie Pontynen RN-BSN ribbon. (The nurses say it’s easier to select from Linda Jaeger Maria Revas a group of five rather then going through a box Megan Johnson Judy Revelle full).The piles, girls, boys, misc. are pleased into Joni Keeler Katha Robinson clean storage containers with tight lids to keep Chris Kidwell Ted Robinson Robin Krill Debra Rocha them fresh. A label is placed on the container so Lindsey Krill Joan Rocha I know exactly the contents and how many are waiting for assignment 4-14-10

Loose flannel and knitted blankets are processed the same way. Now the big crib blankets put out BABY LOVE MINISTRY ON THE ROAD by our Lydia Moneys Blanket Factory come to So many times I have said this Ministry is not me camera ready. Lydia cuts and sews a blanket, just about helping newborns start their journey makes and attaches a custom designed heart wrapped in our love. logo to each one. She adds a signed gift card, packs them in see through plastic bags and de- This Ministry touches the life of others in differ- livers them to my front door. She is marvelous. ent ways. Before I tell you how that happened recently, a little update. Next step is finding boxes for delivery. Well, I just go in back of the merchants stores and pick up On March 10th Jan Bradley drove to San Fran- some wonderful white wine boxes put out for re- cisco and we attended our 2nd baby shower at cycling. They call me the box lady. I then contact the Homeless Prenatal Program. You might re- the Nurse Manager of a hospital birthing unit, or call that after the moms to be complete as 8 week a Program Director for newborns. baby care course, they are given a shower. Your gifts to them at this one included 40 blankets, 45 In addition to San Francisco General Hospital, hats, and 5 sweaters. It was fun. gifts have been donated to Homeless Prenatal Program ,San Francisco; Petaluma Valley Hos- Attending the event was Keri Vaca, owner of pital; St Helena Hospital; Summit Medical Cen- Small Miracles Photography who sent me the fol- ter of Santa Rosa; Catholic Charities Rainbow lowing from her blog a few days later. House, Napa; and Welcome Every New Baby of Napa County. In Keri’s words: “Four times a year the HPP throws a baby shower for the expectant mothers Now its time to connect with the babies. I make that use their services. I, (Keri) went to the shower an appointment with the Nurse Manager for de- to distribute the photos I had taken the previous livery.100 hats are packed in separate boxes la- month. I have been to many of their showers but beled baby girl or boy. A third box contains small this one really touched me.” Keri continues- hats for preemies and large ones for siblings. Blankets are carried in large bags. When I arrive “I met Joan and Jan from the Baby Love Min- at the selected drop off facility, I call up to the istry. Joan Rocha founded Baby Love Ministry. Birthing Unit and they send down a cart to load They were there with a table full of hand knitted up all our items. Picture Santa Claus carrying a hats and blankets. They let the moms choose a bag of presents. YOUR GIFTS are received with hat and blanket to bring their baby home in. They gratitude. have little hang tags letting the baby know that I get to see a lot of babies and meet the birthing someone prayed for them while knitting the hats unit staff. It absolutely amazes me how our won- and making the blankets AND they are already derful Baby Love Team touches the lives of so loved. Watching the moms read the hang tags many people they have never met. The nurses and hold the soft, beautiful, hand made gifts was have fun selecting hats and blankets, the moms so touching. are so grateful, and the BABY who starts the journey is wrapped in love and prayers from YOU. It Your seeds of kindness are scattered throughout is an honor for me to carry your love. and grow within many. YOU are an outstanding member of the team. I BELIEVE WE ARE ALL CONNECTED IN SOME WAY! What do you think? Blessings, Joan Rocha Coordinator

In Jesus Name. Joan Rocha, Coordinator in that day and they had good conversation.

Amanda and I went to my home where we spent a couple of hours talking about the Baby Love Pre- paredness Project and made plans to meet on my visit to Orange County the end of June 2010.

Dr. Holthouse just completed her second year as a resident OB/GYN MD at Arrowhead Regional County Hospital and Riverside Regional County Hospital. Between both hospitals about 450 babies are born a month. Fifty percent, (50%) of the babies delivered are to single parent Moms’.Our target group.

8-4-10 BABY LOVE MINISTRY DELIVERS AGAIN

In May 2010 I met Amanda Holthouse, MD who was visiti ng her Mom in St. Helena. We talked about the work of the Baby Love Ministry and I invited Dr. Holthouse to visit our Baby Love Tree in Bourne Hall. We were fortunate to find Fr. Mac She took some hats and blankets back from Baby happy tears. I have been designated the charge Love to distribute to her patients, and we agreed nurse at Arrowhead to be give out the rest as to meet in Orange County, her schedule permit- there is just not enough of me to go around. The ting. In preparation for our meeting, I shipped smiles on the Mommy’s faces and seeing the ba- blankets and hats to my daughter Debra’s home bies snug as bugs in blankets and hats is a beau- in Irvine where I would be staying. tiful sight. They are truly a loving gift and are so very much appreciated. The smile on the faces Dr. Holthouse often works up to eighty hour a of my patients when I tell them there are people week between seeing clinic patients, delivering out there that care about them and the heath of babies, surgery and post partum care. There their baby is priceless. Please tell all the Aunties was no time to meet on this trip. I sent her a new how wonderful they and their hats and blankets supply of our gifts while in Irvine. Baby Love Min- are and how much helping to inspire lives with istry donated one hundred five hats and twelve suchan amazing little gift.Baby’s lives are brighter blankets to the newborns. because of them.

I received this wonderful letter July 9th. Sincerely, It says Dear Joan but it’s really for ALL YOU Dr. Amanda Holthouse WONDERFUL AUNTIES.

My Thanks to each one of you, for YOUR CON SISTANT and SOLID Support of the BABY LOVE MINISTRY. Many babies love you and do me. Joan Rocha Coordinator

8-18-10

A Letter from Dr. Amanda Holthouse: DELIVERY

Dear Joan, The new moms and babies at San Francisco General Hospital SFGH, received three hundred I just received the beautiful hats in the mail, thank fifty five (355) hats, twenty seven 27 blankets you for supply! I have been so lucky as too be and 100 sample size toiletries. According to Lou- able to give out a majority of the the previous hats ise DiMattio,RN Nurse Manager-6C Birth Cen- and blankets and what a joyful experience, lots of ter, SFGH “there are about 135 births a month. September is our busiest month since it is nine BABY LOVE met them through a phone call from months after the holidays.” Great Grandma,Margaret Halliwell. Her daughter attended a mothers’ group meeting in Calistoga, Last Saturday Louise drove up from San Francis- picked up the St. Helena Star Weekly Calisto- co for the pick up. We were joined by her daugh- gan with the story about our ministry and gave ter Laura (a mom to be in January) who drove it to Margaret. We have been a solid team since up from Davis. After breakfast at Gilwoods and a then. visit to Grace Church, we ended up at my home Sharon Mills RN a Pediatric Cancer Nurse has to admire your beautiful craftwork and load the faithfully mailed hats and booties from the group. boxes in her car. An easy delivery for me! Moreover, Margaret Halliwell has also mailed hats, booties, blankets and sweaters for the ba- Louise and Laura had a delightful time together, bies. They also make quilts for the Ronald Mc- enjoying their mother and daughter day in St. Hel- Donald House in Palo Alto, CA ena. It always amazes me how the BABY LOVE MINISTRY touches us is so many ways. We are From March 09 to September 10, BLM has re- blessed to be doing GODS Earthwork ceived five hundred forty one 541 hats, from the KNITWITS. Of that total Margaret Halliwell made Thank You dear AUNTIES for your support. With- three hundred thirty five 335. I appreciate the out your generous gifts we would have nothing to hard work, time and solid support of each person give. God Bless You. in this remarkable group. HUGS-Joan Rocha Coordinator The KNITWITS are Charter Members of the BLM and continue to send exquisite gifts to the neediest babies who start their life journey. All the babies love their Aunties and Uncle Alex.

HATS OFF---Then HATS ON to the KNITWITS from all the newborn babies who are snuggled in 10-3-10 their gifts.

BABY LOVE MINISTRY HUGS, Joan Rocha Coordinator. and San Jose I want you to meet some extraordinary people from the Episcopal Church in Almaden, San Jose, CA. Their outreach ministry named the, “KNITWITS” includes several Aunties and Uncle Alex. They have donated hand made gifts to BABY LOVE since March 2009

10-27-10 11-14-10

NEWSFLASH FALL CLEANING

Your support of the BABY LOVE TOILETRY project is outstanding! I am overwhelmed with gratitude to each one of you who took the time and made the effort to deliver approximately nine hundred 900 items. I will give you a final total later, as the recent ones are not counted in that total...

On Tuesday November 2nd at our small group meeting we had a stuffing party. Not turkey, TOI- LETRY BAGS. It was fun! Will have a special story with some neat pictures for you to see later on.

I am glad you decided to become involved with Lydia Moneys BABY LOVE Blanket Factory is the BABY LOVE MINISTRY, your kindness will in full production again! Aunt Lydia who designs help support many on their journey. That’s what and sews the custom made fleece blankets with life is all about--- the heart logo is back at her sewing machine. Caring and Helping each other. YOU ARE THE Lydia had hip surgery last June and needed time BEST. to heal. She started back in full swing end of Sep- In Gratitude, tember. Joan Rocha, Coordinator

Lydia said, “I love doing this for the babies, there is a lot of need out there and I am happy to help.” Since January to this date, Lydia has gifted the 11-23-10 BABY LOVE MINISTERY with one hundred ninety three (193) blankets. She also knits neat hats, The Tuesday Night Small and makes many other numerous contributions. Group Stuffing Party

The newborn babies are SCREAMING with joy, The object was to put 700 toiletry items into bag- they loved being snuggled in Auntie Lydia’s Blan- gies for distribution to new moms and moms to kets. It is an honor for me to have Lydia on the be. The first group to receive YOUR gifts was the team and, on a personal note as a solid trusted expectant moms who attended friend. The babies are blessed and I am too. a baby shower given by the Homeless Prenatal Program in San Francisco.

I prepared the items in containers and baskets and delivered them to Sue Cottrells home the night before. Sue removed hanging pots and pans, and cleared the island in her kitchen, making room for the containers..

Jan Bradley organized the assembly line while Erika Trez readScripture. The pictures tell the story. The team of Jan Berg, Jo Bolin, Althea Bloomberg, Jan Bradley ,Sue Cottrell, Judy Cum- mings, Jessica Marshall, Lydia Money, Erika Trez and mestuffed about 116 baggies.

Your gifts along with baby hats, blankets, and photo albums were given out by Adair Tench and me to the moms. It was a wonderful party with a happy ending.

I have so much to be thankful for this year, espe- cially YOU!

BLESSINGS, Joan Rocha, Coordinator.

12-12-10

The Homeless Prenatal Program

BABY LOVE ATTENDS 4th BABY SHOWER

We loaded up the car, Adair Tench drove, and off we went to the HPP baby shower in San Fran- cisco, Thursday Nov., 18th. We arrived two hours later and Nancy Frappier, Wellness Center Coor- dinator, warmly welcomed us. The photos tell the story.

With GRATITUDE Joan Rocha, Coordinator

A special THANK YOU to Diane LeBlanc for her gift of photo albums for each mom, along with the Baby Love cards.

We prepared for 50 moms and brought along a total of 158 hats, blankets, photo albums, 8 Beanie Babies, AND 50 baggies, with 6 items in each bag for a total of 300 toiletries. We put the gifts on two eight foot tables, with Adair at one end and me at the other.

When the moms see all your beautiful hand made gifts they are so touched with your offer- ings, they just stand back and look. That’s when I become, a personal shopper and help them get started. At the other end Adair makes sure everyone receives one of our extra special gift.